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How to choose the right rental car

Before you book your hire car think about what it is you're going to want to do with it, because that will determine to a great degree which group of cars you actually choose.

Remember that size is relevant when you're deciding on which group you're going to book, not only from the luggage capacity but also from the perspective of engine size.

 

After all, a small engined car, carrying 4 adults and bags going up a lot of mountainous roads will be much slower than a larger engined car, even of the same make.

 

Do you ski or golf? Will you be carrying not only luggage but golf clubs or skis as well? Is your destination close to the airport or further away? These are all considerations involved in the decision.

 

So engine size and power are two of the things to remember when choosing which car rental group to book.

 

When it comes to the size of the car itself, many of us decide on price, going for the cheaper option, or the cheapest option they think they can manage with.

 

This, unfortunately can cause unforseen problems, so think about the following before making the final decision.

1. How many are in your party?

2. How many bags does each person have?

3. Is your final destination close to the airport or not?

4. Do you need to fit child seats in the rear as well as other passengers ?

5. Is someone in the party physically disabled?

 

Think about the first point, this is about comfort, depending on how far you have to travel it may or may not be worth renting a larger car. If you only have a few miles to go, then the back seat passengers may not mind being cramped.

 

Point 2 is the one where people fall down most often, especially if anyone is the party is carrying golf clubs or ski's along with their bags. If 2 or more people are taking extra large luggage then it becomes critical.

 

Point 3 just really reinforces the first point and is all about comfort, you also need to think about how far you want to travel on any given day. Are you close to the beach and intending to spend most of your time there, then oce again, those travelling in the rear may not mind being cramped. However, if you're planning on spending some time in the car exploring more remote places then thos rear passengers will be moaning in your ear a lot if they're uncomfortable.

 

Point 4 often gets overlooked and may mean you need two hire cars because if you have 2 adults and 1 child seat all needing to fit in the back, you're probably not going to have happy passengers! Remember that in most european countries at least, it's mandatory to have children under 10 either in a baby/child seat or booster seat if they're older than 4.

 

Point 5 may seem obvious, if you have someone in a wheel chair you're going to be so aware of that it will be one of the first things you think about. But what if it's a case of someone with a bad back, or arthritis in the knees or hips? Is the car big enough that they can not only get in and out OK but will they have enough leg room to sit comfortably in the back? If the person driving and or in the front passenger seat has to pull their seat forward will they be comfortable and in the case of the driver safe to drive?

 

This is where you need to put it all together, thinking about the number of doors, the leg space in the rear, the head space if you're a party of 6'4" rugby players. The luggage space if you've decided on a 7 seater rental car to save money, the 7 seater may be practical during the trip so you all stay together and can take turns driving but it won't necesssarily hold all the baggage needed by 7 people. In this instance you may want to consider renting a small car for the first and last days of your trip just to help with getting the bags to and from your accommodation.

 

These are all things can help to make your holiday great or not, so remember that choosing a small car isn't always the best option to save money, if you get to the airport and find the rental you've booked is too small, you'll pay premium prices to upgrade or, rent a second car.

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Trunk Wont Open In My 98' Ford Contour?

I have a 98' Ford Contour and the trunk wont seem to open. I tried the latch inside the car (which use to work) then I tried the key but it wont turn. I think someone disabled the luggage compartment remote opening mechanism. Help?

Take off the back seat and seat back and crawl thru ,(with a flash light) and open it that way.